Since the release of 'Do the Right Thing' in 1989, Spike Lee has established himself as a cinematic icon. Lee's mostly independent films garner popular audiences while at the same time engaging in substantial political and social commentary. He is arguably the most accomplished African American filmmaker in cinematic history, and his breakthrough paved the way for the success of many other African Americans in film. In this scholarly examination of Spike Lee's oeuvre, Todd McGowan shows how Lee's films, from 'She's Gotta Have It' through 'Red Hook Summer', address crucial social issues such as racism, paranoia, and economic exploitation in a formally inventive manner.